Slinky and M&Ms

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In this activity, students create a "contraption" that will allow them to make a prediction about how many M&Ms are needed to make a cup skim the floor:

Need:
  • mini slinkies (can be purchased at a dollar store or target) - 1 per group
  • dixie or styrofoam cups - 1 per group
  • 2 paper clips per group
  • rulers or painter sticks - 1 per group
  • Masking tape
  • M& Ms - PLAIN - enough to fill about 3/4 of the cup per group
  • Meter sticks or measuring tape - 1 per group

How to collect the data:

  1. Students will need to tape a painter stick to a desk - with about 2/3 of the stick hanging out over the ground.
  2. Make a bucket out of the cup with the two paper clips
  3. Attach the slinky to the paper clips on one end - attach the slinky to the painter stick on the other end
  4. Start with 3 - 6 M&Ms in the bucket
  5. Measure the distance FROM THE FLOOR - to the bottom of the cup and record
  6. Add more M&Ms - measure, record
  7. Complete approximately 5 - 8 rounds of this BUT DO NOT LET THE CUP HIT THE FLOOR!!!

Slinky and M&M Activity.docx


Slinky and MandMs_Data Collection.pdf